Pencil



K. T. BLEUER Oct. 29, 1968 PENCIL 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 1l, 1967@Nomi @My/Ar ITMMLLM K. T. BLEUER oct. 29, 196s PENCIL 6 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed July 11, 1967 mw ow S ww E K. T. BLEUER Oct. 29, 1968 PENCIL GSheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 1l, 1967 NJIV mn SIW ma w l) NON g l wm ,MRhij a #2i F Oct. 29, 1968 K. T. BLEUER 3,408,147

PENCIL Filed July ll, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 3J mlw NIT om. ewdwnm x nl lv l mm flww wm. \"""`\\N"\""`\" 'Il ll l-l Ilm-m, ml \\\\L.\I\\\\| mi miQL m l A 4 A liv o mm. mw mi QT v\\\\\ \x\\ mm- Q@- v mm. @NIT ma mm.mlvv/ Q vm.

Oct. 29, 1968 K. T. BLEUER 3,408,147

PENCIL Filed July l1, 1967 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 mom Ill' mm NNIIT UnitedStates. Patent O 3,408,147 PENCIL Keith T. Blauer, 1042 Kaliahs St.,Neenah, Wis. 54956 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 622,858,

Jan. 31, 1967, which is a continuation-impart of application Ser. No.497,206, Oct. 18, 1965. This application July 11, 1967, Ser. No. 659,267

26 Claims. (Cl. 401-65) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A pencil in which leadsticks are propelled successively -through the pencil by means of a leadgripper which moves back and forth longitudinally within the pencil andis actuated by means of a rotary member having a spiral surface forcontacting and propelling the lead gripper. A spring returns the gripperto an initial lead gripping position when the end ot" the spiral surfaceis reached, and the spring also provides a force for engaging thegripper with lead sticks.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application,Ser. No. 622,858, now abandoned,

tiled lan. 31, 1967, which in turn was a continuation-in:A

part of my application, Ser. No. 497,206, now abandoned, iiied Oct. 18,1965.

The invention relates to writing instruments and more particularly topencils.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved pencil having amagazine for sticks of lead or the like, which is located at the upperend of the pencil and from which the lead may be propelled, with onestick of lead following another, to the lower or writing tip of thepencil. It is contemplated that the pencil shall preferably includepropelling mechanism for the lead sticks which is actuated from theupper end of the pencil by a manually rotatable element and which shallbe operative to move the lead sticks to and through the writing tip alittle at a time in accordance with small corresponding rotativemovement of the manually rotatable element.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved pencil ofthis type having a lead stick gripping element which is actuated to gripa stick of lead for propelling it through the pencil by rotation of therotatable element and which is subsequently moved toward the pencil tipto correspondingly move the lead stick so gripped. It is still anotherobject of the invention to provide spring means for returning thegripping element to its lead gripping position in the pencil after thegripping element has released a lead stick so that the gripping elementmay -again grip a lead stick for another propelling movement through thepencil, with the gripping element preferably being springingly mountedso that it releases a lead stick just prior to its return movement.

The invention consists of the novel constructions, arrangements anddevices to be hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out theabove stated objects, and such other objects, as will be apparent fromthe following description of preferred embodiments of the invention,illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal, sectional view of a pencil embodying theprinciples of the invention, and including Ia manually rotatable, leadadvancing, tubular element disposed in an outer cylindrical housing;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are sectional views taken respectively on lines 2-2,3-3 and 4-4 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is .a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. l;

Patented Oct. 29, 1968 ICC FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the manuallyrotatable, lead advancing, tubular element;

FIG. 7 is `a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view of a modifiedform of the pencil of the invention;

FIG. 8A is a longitudinal sectional view of the lower or writing end ofstill another modification of the pencil of the invention;

FIG. 8B is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper or other end ofthis modification of the invention, this modiiication of the inventionincluding a lead stick gripper movable longitudinally within the pencil,a manually rotatable lead advancing tubular element disposed in an outercylindrical pencil housing and having a slot in it for receiving `a partof the lead gripper, and a bracing element for the lead gripper;

FiG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of thismodiiication of the pencil and similar to FIGS. 8A and 8B but with thelead gripper bracing element included in elevation in the view;

FIG. 10 is a developed plan view of the slot in the lead advancingtubular element of this modification as seen from the exterior of thetubular element;

FIGS. 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 are respectively sectional views takenon an enlarged scale on lines 11-11, 12-12, 13-13, 145-14, 15-15 and16--16 in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the lead stick gripper;

FIG. 18 is an elevational view of the pencil;

FIG. 19A is a longitudinal sectional view of the lower or writing end ofstill another modification of the pencil of the invention;

FIG. 19B is a longitudinal sectional view of the upper or other end ofthis modication of the invention; and

FIGS. 2O,` 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 are respectively sectional views takenon an enlarged scale on lines Ztl-20, 2li-21, 2222, 23a-23, 24-24 and25-25 in FIGS. 19A and 19B.

Like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views.

Referring now to FIGS. l to 6 of the drawing, the illustrated pencil maybe seen to comprise, in general, an outer tubular housing 10 having apointed tip 11 fixed into it, a tubular element or sleeve 12 rotatablydisposed within the housing 1i), a magazine 13 for sticks 14 of lead, alead stick carrying tube 15 iixed to the magazine 13, a tubular carriage16 longitudinally slidable on the -tube 15 and within the element 12 andcarrying a lead stick gripping jaw 17, and ya compression spring 18acting on the carriage 16.

The housing 1li is formed with a tapered end portion 19 having aninwardly extending internal wall 20 and yan axially extendingcylindrical opening 21. The tip 11 tapers in the same directions as theend portion 19 of the housing 1t) so the outer surface of the tip 11forms a continuation of the housing portion 19. The tip 11 is formedwith a tubular portion 22 which extends through the opening 21 and whichhas a press iit with the housing 1t) for holding the -tip ixed withrespect to the housing 10. The tip 11 has three slits 23 on its pointedend so as to provide three lead stick gripping jaws 23a, 2315 and 23Cwhich surround the bore 24 in the tip 11 and function to grip a stick oflead passing down the bore 24 due to the inherent resilience of thejaws.

The tubular element 12 is rotatably disposed within the housing 16 andis cut on its end with a spiral surface 25 and an axially extendingsurface 26 which have the same thickness as the element 12. The surface25 is preferably cut in a left hand spiral as illustrated, and thesurface 26 connects the two ends of the spiral surface 25. The tubularelement 12 is disposed in the housing 10 with the surfaces 25 and 26adjacent the pointed end of the housing; and the other end of theelement 12 has 3 a plain, cut-off end surface 27 -that lies completelyin a plane normal to the longitudinal center of the element 12.

The magazine 13 comprises a tubular shell 28 which is iixed to adisc-like element 29 fitting in the shell 28. The element 29 has Ianopening 3i) through it on its axial center and has an inwardly taperingsurface 31 tapering inwardly toward the opening 30. An eraser 32 ofrubberlike material fits within the element 28, and the shell 28 isprovided with an inwardly extending ridge 33 for acting as a stop -toprevent further movement of the eraser 32 axially within the shell 28.The shell 28 is provided with a iiange portion 34 extending outwardlyover the end surface 27 of the element 12 to limit the axial movement ofthe element 12 with respect to the shell 28.

The tube has an opening or bore 35 disposed, along With-the opening 30and bore 24, on the axial center line of the pencil. The bore 35 isslightly larger in diameter than the opening 30, which is just largeenough to allow a stick 14 of writing lead to slide through the opening30, so that the element 29 provides a shoulder 36 on the end of theopening 30. The tube 15 is xed with respect to the element 29, as bywelding; and the tube 15, on its other end, fits over and has a threadedengagement with the tubular portion 22 of the tip 11. The tube 15 haslongitudinal slots 37 and 38 cut into it which are opposite each otherand are coextensive axially with respect to each other.

The carriage 16 has a slot 39 cut into it, and a spline 40 is disposedin the slot 39 and fits therein with a press fit. The spline 4t) extendsthrough the slot 38 and extends slightly into the bore 35. The carriage16 has a slot 41 cut into it opposite from the slot 39, and the slot 41extends through the carriage 16 except for an elongated portion 41a ofthe slot. The jaw 17 is disposed in the slot 41 and extends through theslot 37 and also slightly into the bore 35 when it is operative to gripa stick of lead as will be hereinafter described. The jaw 17 is providedwith a serrated inner edge 42 which is that edge extending into the bore35 when the jaw is operative for gripping a lead stick. The jaw 17 isformed with a portion 43 of reduced width, and the portion 43 tightlylits in an opening 44 provided in the carriage 16. As will be more clearfrom a description of operation of the pencil, the jaw is made of springsteel, and the 4reduced width portion 43 flexes inwardly and outwardly,so that the serrated edge 42 moves inwardly and outwardly of the bore35, and the reduced width portion 43 is initially formed so that theserrated edge 42 is out of the bore 35 unless external force is appliedto the jaw 17 moving the edge 42 into the bore 35.

The jaw 17 is provided with a tang or lug portion 45 on its end oppositethe reduced width portion 43, and the lug portion 45 is bent over toslightly overlie the carriage v16 as illustrated in FIG. 5. The carriage16 is provided with an outwardly extending tang or lug portion 46, andthe lug portion 46 is disposed to the right of a central plane 47through the pencil, beyond the lug portion 45 in this direction, forpurposes to be hereinafter made more apparent.

The spring 18 is a simple wire compression spring and is disposed aboutthe tube 15 and between the wall 26 of the housing 10 and the adjacentend of the carriage 16.

In operation, the eraser is removed from the tubular element 28, and aplurality of lead sticks 14 are placed into the magazine 13, so as toload the pencil; and the eraser is then replaced in the tubular element28 into its illustrated position, The pencil is normally used forwriting in a more or less upright or vertical position, with the tip 11downward; and if hereafter the words downward or downwardly are used,they are used to mean toward or adjacent to the tip 11. The lead sticks14 enter the opening 30 due to the tapering surface 31 of the element29, with the pencil being in writing disposition or nearly vertical withthe tip 11 downward, and the sticks 14 move down the bore 35 due to theeffect of gravity. An initial lead stick 14 will move into contact withthe jaw 17 assuming that the jaw is in the bore 35, and if the jaw isout of the bore, the initial stick will move downwardly to the jaws 23a,23h and 23e followed by other sticks 14 in Contact with each other.

The jaw 17 moves into contact with a stick 14 at the upper limit of jawmovement, which is with the spline 40 at the upper end of the slot 38(upper or upwardly wherever here used mean remote from or away from thetip 11), and the jaw grips the `stick between itself Yand the spline4l?, as the tubular element 12 is rotated. On further rotation of thetubular element 12, the carriage 16 together with the spline 4t) and jaw17 then move downwardly with the lead stick still being gripped betweenthe jaw 17 and spline 40 so as to propel the stick and any stickslocated farther downwardly in the bores 35 and 24 toward the tip 11. Forthis operation, the pencil may well be gripped in the writing hand withthe housing 10 in particular being gripped in the last three fingers ofthe hand and with the tip 11 pointed downwardly, andthe thumb andforenger may then be used to turn the portion of the tubular element 12located at the upper end of the pencil and protruding from the upper endof the housing 19.

As the tubular element 12 is so rotated, assuming that the carriage 16is at its upward, fully retracted position with the spline 40 at theupper end of the slot 38, the initial or upper end 25a of the spiralsurface 25 engages the lug portion 45 of the jaw 17 and moves theserrated inner edge 42 of the jaw into contact with a stick 14 of lead,so that the stick is gripped between the serrated edge 42 and the spline40. This movement of the jaw 17 is against the resilience of the reducedwidth portion 43 of the jaw 17 which bends inwardly toward the bore 35due to the fact that the spiral surface 25 is effective on the lugportion 45- of the jaw which is located farther outwardly than is thereduced width portion 43 at its place of anchorage within the opening 44of the carriage 16. Additional rotation of the element 12 moves the leadstick 14 gripped between the jaw 17 `and spline 40 farther downwardly inthe pencil toward the tip 11 with the lug portion 45 riding on thespiral surface25 and with the carriage 16 being so propelled downwardlyagainst the action of the spring 18. Assuming that there are lead sticks14 in the bores 35 and 24 ahead or disposed downwardly of the stickgripped by the jaw 17, the lowermost stick 14 will be moved fartheroutwardly out of the tip 11 so that more of it protrudes from the tipfor writing purposes. The lead stick 14 protruding from the tip,

11 is gripped by the three jaws 23a, 23b and 23e so that it does notmove laterally with respect to the tip 11 and so that there is no lostmotion between it and the tip for a good writing action. This pencil,like most pencils, is gripped between the first two fingers and thethumb of the writing hand when used for writing. Since the spiralsurface 23 is continuous from one end 25a to the other end 25h, it isapparent that the lead stick gripped by the jaw 17 and those ahead ofthis particular stick in the bores 35 and 24 may be moved downwardly inthe pencil as much or as little as desired, depending on the degree ofrotation given the tubular element 12. The forward movement of thecarriage 16, jaw 17 and spline 40 caused by rotation of the tubularelement 12 and spiral surface 25. is against the action of the spring18, and it will thus be apparent that the spring 18 in tending to forcethe carriage 16 upwardly causes a forceful bearing of the lug portion 45of the jaw 17 on the spiral surface 25 and thus causes the jaw 17 toforcefully grip a stick of lead between it and the spline 40, so thatbackward slippage of the lead stick due to writing pressure on the leadstick protruding from the tip 11 cannot occur. Backward rotation of theelement 12, due to the force of the lug portion 45 bearing on the spiralsurface 25 caused by the spring 18, cannot occur due to the friction ofthe element 12 0n the flange portion 34 of the shell 28 which isstationary with respect to the housing 10.

As the lead stick protruding from the tip 11 is used, the lead stickswithin the bores 35 and 24 are advanced as needed by rotation of theelement 12 so that there is always a satisfactory length of leadprotruding from the tip 11 for writing; and finally the lug portion 45will have traversed the complete length of the spiral surface 25, sothat the lug portion 45 rests on the lower end 25b of the surface 25.Under these conditions, if the tubular element 12 is rotated slightly,the lug portion 45 will travel olf the end 25b of the spiral surface 25and will travel upwardly along the axially extending surface 26 of thetubular element 12. Since the element 12 at this time does not bear onthe lug portion 45, the jaw 17 springs back outwardly out of the bore 35and releases the lead stick that is between it and the spline 40, thismovement of the jaw 17 being due to the resilience of the reduced widthportion 43 of the jaw 17. The upward or return travel of the carriage 16and jaw 17 is due to the action of the spring 18, which is alwaystending to move the carriage 16 in this direction. A complete return ofthe carriage 16 to its uppermost limit of movement does not, however,take place without a slight additional rotation of the tubular element12, due to the presence of the tang 46 provided on the carriage 16 whichstrikes the end 25b of the spiral surface 25 as the carriage 16 beginsits upward movement and as the lug portion 45 moves off the end 25b ofthe surface 25 and onto and along side of the axially extending surface26 of the element 12. The tang 46 thus causes a hesitation of thecarriage 16 in its upward movement, as the element 12 is rotated, andassures that the jaw 17 can spring completely out of engagement with thelead stick between it and the spline 4t) as the carriage 16 makes itsupward movement which is into substantial contact with the disc-likeelement 29. The pencil is assumed to be in substantially verticalposition, as above described in the writing hand, with the thumb andforefinger acting to turn the element 12 when the carriage 16 makes itsreturn movement, so that the lead sticks 14 remain in end to end contactin the bores 35 and 24. After the carriage 16 has returned to the upperlimit of its movement, a slight additional rotation of the element 12causes the jaw 17 to engage with the lead stick between it and thespline 40 and to Amove it toward the tip as has been above described.

With respect to an initial lead stick within the bore 35, it will beapparent that it will follow the jaw 17 downwardly as the carriage 16moves downwardly and that it and additional lead sticks will dropdownwardly in the bores 35 and 24 when the jaw 17 returns to retractedposition due to its own resilience. The lug portion 45 is bent over toslightly overlie the carriage 16 as illustrated in FIG. 5 so that thespiral surface 25 remains eifective on the lug portion 45 even thoughthere is no lead stick at the time between the jaw 17 and the spline 40,and the jaw 17 might otherwise enter too far into the bore 35. Theshoulder 36 functions to tend to prevent upward movement of lead sticksin the bores 35 and 24 when the pencil is upended as when erasing,assuming that the jaw 17 is at the time out of engagement with a leadstick.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 7 is substantiallythe same as the previously described embodiment, differing mainly fromthe latter in substituting small balls 48 for the shoulder 36. In theFIG. 7 embodiment, the bore 35k has the same diameter as the diameter ofthe opening 30k of the disc-like element 29k that corresponds to theelement 29 in the first embodiment, and the diameters of the bore 35kand opening 38k are just suicient to allow a stick of lead to slidethrough them easily. The balls 48 are disposed in bores or openings 49in the disc-like element 29k which are drilled into the element 29k fromits end to which the tube 15k is fixed, so that the openings 49 extendfrom the opening 30k toward the tip 11 and at acute angles with respectto the central axis of the pencil. In order to provide for the balls 48and openings 49, the element 29k is made slightly thicker than theelement 29 as is apparent from the drawing. The openings 49 are drilledinto the opening 30k slightly, and the openings 49 are blocked at theirouter ends by any suitable means, such as by welding that is used to fixthe element 15k to the element 29k. There may be a plurality of balls 48and openings 49- there may be, for example, 3 balls and 3 openings,equally spaced circumferentially about the element 29k.

The FIG. 7 embodiment functions the same as the iirst describedembodiment except that the balls 48 take the place of and function inplace of the shoulder 36. When the FIG. 7 embodiment is upended as whenerasing, the balls 48 will move down the bores 48 and will engage with astick of lead in the opening 30k, thus preventing the lead stick frommoving by gravity out of the bore 35k and back into the magazine 13.Since each of the three bores 49 extend generally downwardly of thepencil toward the tip 11 and lie at an acute angle with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the pencil, it will be apparent that one or two ofthe balls 48 will travel down its bore and into contact with the leadstick in the opening 30k before the pencil passes through a horizontalposition in being upended from a generally Vertical position with thetip 11 downward, so that these balls grip the lead stick in the opening30k before gravity is effective to tend to return the stick into themagazine 13.

The length of the longitudinally extending surface 26 on the rotatableelement 12 is slightly greater than the distance of retracting travel ofthe carriage 16 in returning to its fully retracted positionsubstantially in contact with the disc-like element 29 or 29k from itsfully extended position which is illustrated in FIG. 1 or FIG. 7.Therefore the end 25a of the spiral surface 25 does not make immediatecontact with the lug portion 45 when the carriage 16 snaps back to itsfully retracted position under the action of the spring 18, and a slightadditional rotation of the element 12 is necessary to cause the spiralsurface 25 to make contact with the lug portion 45 to move the jaw 17into contact with a lead stick 14 in the bore 35 or bore 35k. Therefore,the lead stick engaging movement of the jaw 17 is under manual controlrather than under control of the spring 18 which would cause anengagement of the lead stick by the jaw 17 with a greater shock and witha possible breakage of the lead stick.

The carriage 16 moves back to its fully retracted position with a snapdue to the action of the spring 18, and the resulting jar helps infeeding the lead sticks downwardly in the bores 35 and 35k due to theirown weight. As above explained, the pencil is preferable in a verticalposition at this time, with the tip 11 downward, Advantageously, thespring 18 also assures that a lead stick 14 is rmly gripped by the jaw17 whenever the lug portion 45 is in contact with the helical surface25, since the spring 1S tends to force the carriage 16 upwardly, whilethis is resisted by the jaw 17 bearing on the spiral surface 25, causingthe jaw 17 to bend and swing inwardly into the bore 35 or 35k into tightengagement with the lead stick. The spring 18 causing the lug portion 45.and tang 46 to travel with a snap action along the longitudinallyextending surface 26 in retracting movement of the carriage 16 alsoassures that there is little lost motion of the rotatable element 12 andthat most of the rotation of the element 12 for its 360 degrees of turnis effective to actually propel a lead stick downwardly out of the tip11.

The primary difference between the embodiments of the inventionpreviously described and that illustrated in FIGS. 8418 is that, in thelatter form of the invention, the manually rotatable element is turned aplurality of turns for moving the lead gripping element forwardlythrough the pencil, while in the first described embodiments onlya'single turn of the manually rotatable element is utilized before areturn movement of the lead gripping element occurs. Therefore,advantageously, with the embodiment of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 8- 18, there is less loss motion of the manually rotatable elementin propelling the lead sticks through the pencil, although the rstdescribed embodiments are advantageously very simple. v

The modied form of pencil illustrated in FIGS. 8-18 comprises an outertubular housing or barrel 60 having a pointed tip 61 extending into it,atubular element or sleeve 62 rotatably disposed within the housing 60,a magazine 63 for sticks 64 of writing lead, a lead gripper 65 whichmoves longitudinally back and forth within the tubular element 62, aguide element 66 for the gripper 65, a lead stick carrying tube 67 whichtelescopes into both the guide element 66 and also into the tip 61, agripper bracing element 68 which moves longitudinally back and forth inthe pencil along with the gripper 65 and a compression spring 69effective between the tip 61 and the gripper 65.

The housing 60 is formed with a tapered 'end portio 70 and an axiallyextending cylindrical opening 71. The tip 61 tapers in the samedirection yas the end portion 70 of the housing 60 so that the outersurface of the tip 61 forms a continuation of the housing 60. Thetip 61is formed with a tubular portion 72 which extends through the opening71, and the tubular portion 72 is externally threaded for purposes to behereinafter described. The tip 61 has a lead bore or duct 73 extendinglongitudinally through it, and the tip 61 has 3 slits 74 on its pointedend so -as to provide 3 lead stick gripping jaws 61a, 61b, and 61C whichsurround the bore 73 in the tip 61 and function to grip a stick of leadpassing down the bore 73 due to the inherent resilience of the jaws.

The tubul-ar element 62 is rotatably disposed within the housing 60 andprotrudes slightly from the rupper end of the housing 60 so that thetubular element 62 may be easily rotated with respect to the housing asfor example by means of the thumb and forefmger of a persons hand whichholds the pencil between the other fingers of the hand and the palm. Therotatable element 62 is formed with a helical slot 75 within it. Theslot has inner edges 75a and 75b and outer edges 75e and 75d. For thegreatest part of the length of the slot 75, the edges 75a and 75b arecloser together than are the edges 75e and 75d so as to deline outwardlyaring sides 75e and 75]c of the slot 75. At the lower end of slot 75,the outer edges 75o and 75a' are brought together, and the inner edges75a and 75b are brought closer together but are still spaced from eachother, so as to dene the inwardly flaring sides 75g and 75h. At theupper end of the slot 75, the inner edges 75a and 75b are the samedistance apart as are the outer edges 75o and 75d so as to delne theradially extending slot sides 75 and 75j. FIG. 10 is a developed view ofthe slot 75 as it appears from the exterior of the tubular element 62.The slot 75 extends around the tubular element 62 for substantially 3turns or 1080", and the 0 or upper end position is considered to be atthe right end of the slot 75 as it is seen in FIG. 8B between theradially extending surfaces 751 and 75]', and the lower 1080 position orlower end of the slot 75 is considered to be at the left hand end of thegroove 75 as it is seen in FIG. 8B, between inwardly flaring surfaces75g and 75h. As it will be observed from FIG. 10, the slot 75 isslightly wider at the 0 position, between the slot sides 75 and 75j,than at other mmediately subsequent positions about the slot. From theposition (at the upper right hand end of the slot 75 between thesurfaces 751' and 75j as seen in FIG. 8B), the outer edges 75e and 75dtaper inwardly toward the slot center line 76 (which extends helicallyabout the tubular element 62), and the inner edges 75a and 75h taperinwardly to a still greater extent, this tapering of both the inner andouter edges of the slot Ibeing from the 0 position to the 180 positionwhich coincides with the right hand showing of the slot-75 at the lowerperiphery of the tubular element 62 as it is seen in FIG. 8B. Thedistances between the edges 75a and 75b and the distances between theedges 75e` and 75d remain uniform so as to provide the outwardly Haringsides 75e and 75j from the 180 position to the 900 position of the slotwhich corresponds to the left hand showing of the slot in the lowerperiphery of the element 62 as the element 62 is seen in FIG. 8B.Between the 900 position and the 1080" position, the outer edges 75e and75d taper inwardly -to the slot center line 76. The inner edges 75a and7511 Aare widened at the 900 position to have about .the same spacing asat the 0 position and from'900 to 1080 taper inwardly also but to a lessextent as is shown in FIG. l0.

Preferably the tubular element 62 is formed from a single strip of sheetmetal which is bent about a cylindrical mandrel (not shown) into tubularform, and the slot sides 75e to 75j are formed on the edges of the metalstrip prior to bending the strip into tubular form a'bout the mandrelwith the slot 75 being provided between convolutions of the strip. Theside edges of the strip forming the tubular element 62 in the portionsof the tubular element 62 outside of the slot 75, that is, both aboveand below the slot 75, preferably have their side edges xed together, asby welding, so as to form a relatively rigid element.

The guide element 66 has a cylindrical end portion 77 at its upper endtting within the rotatable element 62. The end portion 77 i-s providedwith a central opening 78 therethrough which is only slightly larger indiameter than the diameter of a lead stick 64, and the guide element 66is provided with a larger diameter central bore 79 in communication withand below the opening 78. The portion 77 has an inwardly taperingsurface 80 tapering inwardly toward the opening 78, and the surface 80forms the lower surface or the magazine 63 lfor lead sticks and servesto funnel the lead sticks into the opening 78 when the pencil is heldsu'bstantially vertically with its tip 61 down in the usual operatingposition of the pencil. The guide element 66 is provided on its lowerend with a tubular portion 81, and the portions 77 and 81 are connected:by an intermediate semi-tubular portion 82 which -has the same outerdiameter with respect to the center line 83 of the pencil as do theportions 77 and 81 but has radially extending surfaces 84 and 85adjacent but spaced from the longitudinally vertical plane 86 throughthe pencil. The bore 79 extends centrally and longitudinally of theelement 66 for approximately '1/2 the length of the portion 82, and thebore 79 then enlarges into a larger diameter bore 87 which extends tothe lower end of the element 66 and through the portion 81. The portion81 is internally threaded in the bore 87, and the externally threadedportion 72 of the tip 61 is screw threaded into the portion 81 so as tohold the tip 61 and the guide element 66 with respect to the housing 60.The housing 60, in this connection, is provided with an inside taperedsurface 88, and the portion 81 of the guide element 66 is provided witha correspondingly tapered surface 89 which ts within the housing 60 asshown in FIG. 8A.

The lead carrying tube 67 fits at one end in the bore 79 within thecylindrical portion 77 of the element 66,.and the tube 67 has aninternal bore or duct 90 which is slightly larger in diameter than thediameter of the opening 78, so as to form an inwardly extending shoulder91 at the lower end of the opening 78 for tending to prevent the returnmovement of lead sticks out of the bore back into the magazine 63 whenthe pencil is upended for any reason. The tube 67 at its lower end fitsinto the cylindrical bore 92 formed within the tip 61, and the bore 90decreases in diameter slightly toward its lower end, as will be notedfrom FIG. 8A, so that the 'bore 90 'at its lower end has substantiallythe same diameter as the bore 73 in the tip 61. I

The tube 67 is provided with an external peripheral groove 93, :and theguide element 66 is provided with .a peripheral groove 94, and theelement' 66 at the bottom of the groove 94 is deformed so that it entersthe groove 93 and thus fixes and interlocks the tube 67 within the guideelement 66. rl'he tubular element 62 is provided with an inwardlyextending tang 95 which extends into the groove 94 in the guide element'66 so as to iix the rotary element 62 from longitudinal movement withrespect to the guide element 66 and thereby with respect to the tip 61and also with respect to the housing 60 due to the threaded connectionbetween the guide element 66 and the tip 61. The tube 67 is providedwith longitudinally extending slots 96a and 96b therein, and side edges97a and 971; of the slots 96a and 96h are in alignment with or are inthe same plane extending longitudinally of the pencil as are thesurfaces 84 and 85.

The gripper 65 is preferably stamped from a single piece of spring steelstrip and comprises an anvil portion 98 extending through the slot 96aand slightly into the bore 90, a bridging portion 99 extending aroundthe tube 67, a toothed or jaw portion 100 extending into the slot 96band nearly into the bore 90 in the illustrated position of the gripper65 in FIG. 8B and a bridging tang portion 101 extending around the tube67 back to the same side ofthe tube as the portion 98. Connectingportions 102 and 103 connect the toothed portion 100 with the portions99 and 101, and it will be noted that the portion 102 is longer and isof less width than the portion 103 for purposes to be hereinafterdescribed. The portion 100 has a at end 104 that has surface to surfacecontact with the flat surface 84 ofthe guide element 66, and the end 104has a circular outer end surface 105 and has outwardly flaring surfaces106 and 107. The end 104 is less in width longitudinally of the pencilthan the width of the slot 75 between the surfaces 751 and 75j but is ofgreater width than the distance between the edges 75a and 75b betweenthe 180 and 900 positions of the slot 75 so that the tang portion 101may enter the slot between the surfaces 75L' and 75]' but cannot enterthe slot between the surfaces 75e and 75f from 180 to 900 of the slot75. The gripper 65 is so formed that it has an inherent resiliencyparticularly in the connecting portion 102 tending to move the end 104outwardly, as the gripper 65 is illustrated in the figures, so as tomove the end 104 into the slot 75 when the end 104 is in alignment withthe portion of the slot at 0, that is, :between the radially extendingsurfaces 751' and 75]'.

The bracing element 68 has a cylindrical outer surface 108 in contactwith the inner surface of the tubular e'lement 62 and has plane surfaces109, 110, 1111, and 112 and an internal cylindrical surface 113. Thesurfaces are in alignment or are in the same longitudinal plane as theside surfaces 97e and 97d of the grooves 96a and 96b in the leadcarrying tube 67 and are spaced slightly from the longitudinal plane 86,`and the surfaces 109 and 111 are respectively in contact with and bracethe portions 101 and 99 of the gripper 65. The surface 113 is in slidingcontact with the outer surface of the tube 67.

The spring 69 extends between the lower end of the gripper 65 and theupper end of the tip 61. The spring 69 is disposed in the bore 87 of theguide element 66, and the surface 112 of the bracing element 68 extendsfor a part of the length of the spring and is in contact with thespring.

The magazine 63 is closed by means of an eraser 114 of rubber-likematerial which ts within the rotatable element 62. An inwardly extendingridge .i115 is formed within the rotatable element 62 for the purpose oflimiting the inward movement of the eraser 114 with respect to therotatable element 62.

In operation, the eraser 114 is removed from the rotatable element 62,and a supply of lead sticks 64 is inserted into the magazine 63. Thelead sticks 64, with the pencil being in its usual vertical positionwith the tip 61 down, move into the openin-g 7S successively and moveinto the bore 90 of the lead carrying tube 67, this movement of theleads being due to the effect of gravity. The toothed portion 100 of thegripper 65 is in a position in the slot 96b `and outside of the bore 90,and the portion 100 thus does not engage any lead sticks 64 in the bore90 as the gripper 65 makes a return movement upwardly in the pencil intoits illustrated position, as will hereinafter be described. Lead sticks64 thus are within the bore 90 down to the tip 61. The -gripper 65, ashas been previously described, is inherently biased so that the tangportion 101 springs outwardly whereby the tang end 104 moves outwardlyand into the widest portion of the slot 75, which is that portion of theslot between the sides 751' and 75j, assuming that the rotatable element`62 is in or is moved to its rotative position shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B.This movement of the gripper 65 is a general pivoting movement about therelatively exible gripper portion 102; and, Ias the tang portion 101moves into the slot 75, the toothed portion -100 enters the bore 90 andgrips a lead stick 64 between it and the opposite anvil portion 98 ofthe gripper 65. On further rotation of the rotatable element 62, as bymeans of the thumb and forenger of the hand holding the pencil, the tangportion 101 moves downwardly in the slot 75 and thus moves the gripper65 downwardly in the pencil, fwith the anvil portion 98 and the toothedportion 100 moving in the slots 96a and 96b and being braced by thesurfaces 84 and 85 and thus being held from rotation along with therotatable element 62. A lead stick `64 thus gripped between the toothedportion 100 and the anvil portion 98 is thus propelled down the bore ofthe tube 67 and propels the lead sticks in front of it and causes thelead stick at the lower end of the tip 61 to be moved farther outwardlyor downwardly with respect to the tip `61 to provide an additionallength of lead for writing purposes. rI'his movement of the gripper 65is against the compressing action of the spring `69; and, in view of thefact that the force from the upper surfaces 75j and 751 of the slot 75is on the opposite side of the lead tube l67 with respect to the part ofthe Igripper 65 that flexes, namely the portion 102, the force due tothe spring 69 tending to move the gripper 65 upwardly in the pencil hasthe action of causing a tight gripping of the lead stick between thetoothed por tion and the anvil portion 98 of the gripper. As the tangportion 101 moves from the radially extending surface 75j to theoutwardly flaring surface 75,1c of the slot 75, with rotation of theelement 62, the outwardly'flaring side 75jc of the slot acting on theoutwardly aring edge 107 of the tang portion 101 also has a cam actionwhich tends to move the tan-g portion 101 outwardly and increase theforce of the toothed portion 100 on a lead stick between the toothedportion and the anvil portion 98. In view of the yfact that the curvedend of the tang portion 101 is greater in width than the distancebetween the edges 75a and 75h of lche slot 75, it will be apparent thatthe tang portion -101 cannot move out of the slot 75 after the tangportion once enters between the flaring surfaces 75e and 75jc of theslot 75.

As the lead is used, the rotatable element 62 will be rotated more andmore, for a rotation up to 3 turns, and during these continued turningmovements of the element 62, the lead sticks 64 in the bore 90 are movedfarther and farther toward the end of the tip 61; and ladditional leadsticks keep lfeeding from the magazine 63 into the opening 78 and intothe bore 90, so that the bore 90 is maintained full of lead sticks fromthe magazine 63.

After a rotation of 900, that is, 21/2 turns from the position of therotatable element 62 as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the tang portion101 reaches the part of the slot 75 lat which the sides of the slotchange from an outwardly aring disposition to an inwardly aringdisposition, that is, from the outwardly arin-g sides 75e and 75)c tothe inwardly aring sides 75g and 75h. About midway between the 900 andthe 1080 positions of rotation of the element 62, the tang portion 101is forced out of the slot 75 inwardly toward the center line 83 of thepencil, particularly by the inwardly aring sides 75g and 75h acting onthe curved end surface 105 of the tang portion 101; and the tang portion101 thus disengages from the slot 75. This same movement, with most ofthe pivoting movement of the tang portion 101 taking place in therelatively thin portion 102 of the lgripper 65, causes the toothedportion 100 to move out of the bore 90 so as to cause the toothedportion to disengage with respect to any lead sticks 64 within the bore90. Since the sides of the slot 75 are no longer effective to hold thegripper 65 against upward movement toward the magazine 63, the gripper65 snaps upwardly at this time under the action of the spring 69, duringall of this movement being out of engagement with lead sticks within thebore 90, with the curved end sunface 105 ratcheting and sliding over theinner surface of the rotatable element `62 and the slot edges 75a and75f. The tang portion 101 cannot enter the slot 75 on this returnmovement of the gripper 65 due both to the curved end -105 ratcheting ina snap action across the slot 75 and also due to the lfact that the tangportion 101 is Wider than the distance between the slot edges 75a and75b. On a slight additional rotation of element 62, the portion of theslot 75, which is between the radially extending surfaces 751' and 75j,is again in register with the tang portion 101, and the tang portion'again-moves outwardly into the slot 75 due to the resilience of thereduced thickness 102 of the 'gripper 65; and the toothed portion 100again engages with lead sticks :between it and the anvil portion 98 sothat the lead propelling action of the gripper 65 on lead sticks engagedby the gripper 65 may -again be repeated.

The bracing element `68 during this reciprocating movement of thegripper 65 travels -with the lgripper 65 and braces the portions 98,100, 99 and 101, so that undue sideward movement of these portionscannot take place. The surface 112 also acts to hold the upper end ofthe spring 69 in proper position. The bracing element 68 may be omittedif desired, so that the only reciprocal carriage Iwithin the pencil isthe gripper 65; however, the use of the bracing element 68 is preferred.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 20 to25 is quite similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 18 and differsfrom the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 to 18 mainly in that it is somewhatsimplified in construction.

The modified form of pencil illustrated in FIGS. 19 to comprises anouter tubular housing or barrel 125, a tubular element or sleeve 126rotatively disposed within the housing 125, ya magazine 127 for sticks128 of writing lead, a lead gripper 129 which moves longitudinally backand `forth within the tubular element 126, a guide element 130 whichfits within the tubular element 126 and within the outer barrel 125, alead stick carrying tube 131 which is disposed within the guide element130, a compression spring 132 effective between a part of the guideelement 130 and the gripper 129, and a pocket clip y133 which not onlyis for the purpose of holding the pencil within the users pocket butalso holds parts of the pencil together.

The barrel 125 corresponds to the barrel 60 in the previously describedembodiment and has an inwardly tapering tip portion 134 with acylindrical opening 135 therethrough. The barrel 125 has an internalcavity 136 which is cylindrical and is of uniform cross-section for mostof the length of the barrel 125.

The rotatable sleeve 126 corresponds to the sleeve 62 in the previouslydesc-ribed embodiment and differs principally from the sleeve 62 in thatthe sleeve 126 is considerably shorter. The sleeve 126 is rotatablydisposed within the cylindrical cavity 136 of the barrel 125, and therotatable sleeve 126 is provided with a helical slot 137 in it which isidentical with the helical shot 75 in the previously describedembodiment. It will be noted that the rotatable sleeve 126 isillustrated as being formed from an integral piece of material and thatthe sleeve 126 terminates, at its lower end, adjacent to the lower endyof the helical slot 137. The rotatable sleeve 126 is provided with aperipheral groove 138 adjacent its upper end Ibut located completelywithin the housing and is also provided with a rectangular opening 139extending through it and in communication with the peripheral groove138. The groove 138 and opening 139 co-operate with the clip 133 in amanner as will be hereinafter described. A rubber eraser 140 extendsinto the rotatable sleeve 126 at its upper end and thereby closes themagazine 127,- and the sleeve 126 is provided with an inwardly extendingridge 141 for limiting the downward movement of the eraser 140 into themagazine 127.

The gripper 129 is substantially identical with the gripper 65 in thepreviously described embodiment except that the gripper 129 is providedwith radially extending tang portions 142 and 143 on its lower end, andthese tang portions are in contact with the lower end of the rotatablesleeve 126 when the gripper 129 is at the upper limit of its movement asillustrated in the gures. The gripper 129 also diiers from the gripper65 in being provided with a laterally extending tang portion 144adjacent to the other end of the gripper and formed on the anvil portion145 of the gripper. Otherwise the gripper 129 is substantially identicalwith the gripper 65 and includes the anvil portion 145 corresponding tothe anvil portion 98, a bridging portion 146 corresponding to thebridging portion 99, a toothed jaw portion 147 corresponding to the jawportion 100, a bridging tang portion 148 corresponding to the tangportion 101 and having a `hat end 149 with a circular outer end surface150.

The guide element 130 corresponds generally with the guide element 66 inthe previously described embodiment and takes the place of the guideelement 66 and the gripper bracing element 68. The guide element 130 isprovided with a cylindrical portion 151 that extends to the lower end ofthe rotatable sleeve 126, a tapered or conical portion 152 and acylindrical tip portion 153. A slot 54 is cut in the guide element 130,and the slot is defined by side surfaces 155 and 156 and by end surfaces157 and 158. The guide element 130 is provided with an inwardly taperingsurface 159 on its upper end which corresponds with the surface 80 inthe previously described embodiment and forms the bottom of the magazine127.

The guide element 130 extends through the lower tapered tip portion 134of the barrel 125, with its cylindrical portion 153 passing through thecylindrical opening 135 in the barrel 125, and the guide element 130 hasa tapered tip 160 which forms a continuation of the tapered tip portion134 of the barrel 125. The guide element has an annular rim or bossportion 161 formed on it, and the portion 161 is in contact with ashoulder 162 formed within the tapered tip portion 134 of the barrel 125for limiting the movement of the guide element 130 downwardly within thebarrel 125.

The lead stick carrying tube 131 is quite similar Yto the correspondingtube 67 in the previously described embodiment and differs from the tube67 principally in being longer and in taking the place of the pencil tip61. The tube 131 is provided on its lower end with three slits 163 so asto provide three lead gripping jaws 131a, 131b, and 131C. These jawscorrespond to the jaws 61a, 61b, and 61C in the previously describedembodiment and function in the same manner to grip the lead sticks atthe writing point of the pencil.

The guide element 130 is provided with a cylindrical bore 164 forreceiving the lead stick carrying tube 131 and the tube 131 has a drivefit with the walls of the bore 164. The bore 164, for the length of theslot 154, has only a half cylindrical surface in view of the fact thatthe slot 154 is wider than a half diameter of the bore 164 as isapparent from FIGS. 2l to 24. The tube 131 is provided with oppositeslots 165g and 165b, and these correspond with the slots 96a and 96b inthe lead carrying tube 67 of the prior described embodiment. Therelationship of sides of the slots 165rz and 165]; with the surface 155is the same as that of the surfaces 97a and 97b with respect to thesurfaces 84 and 85 in the prior described embodiment. The guide element130 is provided with au opening 166 at the lower end of the magazine127, and the opening 166 is in communication with and is in alignmentwith the bore through the tube 131, with the diameter of the opening 166being just slightly less than the internal diameter of the tube 131 forthe same purposes as has been described in connection with the bore 90of the tube 67 and the opening 78 in the prior described embodiment.

The anvil portion 145 and the toothed portion 147 of the gripper 129extend through the slots 165a and 165b in the same manner as theportions 98 and 100 of the gripper 65 extend through the slots 96a and96h, and the tang portion 144 overlies the upper surface of the leadcarrying tube 131 and assures that the upper end of the anvil portion145 cannot enter into the bore of the tube 131 an undue distance. ltwill be observed from FIGS. 21 and 23 that the width of the slot 154 andthe position of the surface 156 of the guide element 130 are such thatside surfaces of the bridging portion 146 and of the bridging tangportion 148 are in contact with the surface 156, and the portions 146and 148 are thus guided and supported by the surface 156.

The spring 132 takes the place of the spring 69 in the previouslydescribed embodiment. The spring 132 is a conical spring and has itslarge diameter end bearing on the radially extending tang portions 142and 143 of the lead gripper 129 and has its small diameter end bearingon the annular rim portion 161 of .the guide element 130. The diameterof the spring 132 at its upper end is just slightly less than thediameter of the cylindrical cavity 136 in the barrel 125, and ittherefore is apparent that the spring 132 is centered in its locationboth at its upper and lower ends.

The clip 133 is, in general, a resilient metal strip of rectangularcross-section bent back upon itself to have opposite leg portions 167and 168; and, in disassembled position, these portions 167 and 168 aresubstantially in contact due to the spring action of the clip 133. A nib169 is fastened to the end of the leg portion 167 for holding the legportion 167 substantially in parallel relationship with the exteriorsurface of the barrel 125, and the leg portion 168 is provided with anoutwardly extending boss portion 179. The lbarrel 125 is provided with anotch 171 on its upper edge and is provided with a longitudinallyextending slot 127 within its cavity 136 and is also provided with anopening 173 through the barrel 125 in communication with the slot 172.The clip 133 extends through the notch 171, and the leg 168 of the clip133 extends downwardly through the barrel 125 within the slot 172 andwithin the peripheral groove 138 of the rotatable sleeve 126, with theboss portion 176 of the leg 168 extending outwardly through the opening173 in the barrel 125.

1n operation, this embodiment of the invention functions insubstantially the same manner as the embodi ment shown in FIGS. 8 to 18.The rotatable element 126 is turned in order to cause the gripper 129 togrip lead sticks 128 and propel them through the lead tube 131downwardly through the pencil and through the stick gripping jaws 131a,131b, and 131C. This movement of the gripper 129 is against the actionof the spring 132; and the spring, due to the arrangement of parts,provides because of its force a strong gripping action on the leadsticks 128. When the tang portion 148 of the gripper 129 reaches the endof the helical slot 137, the slot 137 is so constructed as tosimultaneously move the tang portion 148 out of the slot and at .thesame time cause the toothed portion 147 to disengage with respect to alead stick 128 within the tube 131, and the spring 132 moves the leadgripper 129 back to its initial position in which it is illustrated inthe figures. Continued rotary movement of the element 126 causes are-engagement of the lead sticks by means of the toothed portion 147,and still additional rotary movement of the sleeve 126 causes furthermovement of the lead sticks 128 toward the tip ofthe pencil.

The pencil may be assembled by first assembling the lead tube 131 in itsproper position with respect to the guide element 130; and, due to thefriction t of the tube 131 in the guide element 130, the tube 131remains in its proper position in the guide element. The spring 132 maythen be assembled onto the guide element 130, with its lower end inengagement with the rim portion 161. The gripper 129 may -be positionedin the slot of the guide element 130 and is sprung open slightly as thetube 131 is put into position in order to properly position the gripper129.

The rotary sleeve 126 is then slid onto the cylindrical exterior surface151 of the guide element 130; the clip 133 is put into the peripheralgroove 138 of the sleeve 126 and the assembly as so far completed ismoved downwardly and inwardly into the barrel 125. The boss portion 170slides within the internal longitudinally extending slot 172 within theIbarrel 125; and, due to the springiness of the clip 133, the bossportion 170 extends downwardly into the opening 139 until the bossportion 170 reaches the opening 173 Iwith continued movement of theseparts into the barrel 125. The boss portion 170 then snaps outwardlyinto the opening 173 to lock the clip in place on the barrel 125, andthe leg portion 168 of the clip 133 in fitting within the groove 138 ofthe rotary sleeve 126 holds the sleeve 126 from longitudinal movement ineither direction within the barrel and thereby holds the other parts ofthe pencil, including the gripper 129 and spring 132, in their properpositions particularly against the expansive force of the spring 132.The cylindrical portion 153 of the guide element 13) has a drive twithin the cylindrical opening 135 of the housing 125 so that there isno tendency for the guide element to rotate within the barrel 125 duringoperation of the pencil Iby rotary movement of the sleeve 126. The clip133 also functions in the usual manner, with its outer leg 167 causingthe tang portion 169 to bear downwardly with resilient action toward theexterior surface of the barrel 125 so that the pencil may be insertedinto the users pocket, and the nib 169 bears against the exteriorsurface of the pocket and holds the pencil within the pocket.

The last described two embodiments of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 to25 advantageously allow the rotatable manually operated elements 62 and126 to be rotated a plurality of turns while still propelling leadsticks through the pencil during nearly the full rotation. As with thefirst described embodiments shown in FIGS. l to 7, the latter twoembodiments also provide an engagement force on lead sticks in the boreof a lead carrying tube which is dependent on in magnitude and isincreased by the force from a spring; and the spring has, as anotherfunction, the return of the lead gripping device back to its initialretracted position. The anvil portions 98 and 145 as well as the spline40 in the first described embodiments are not moveable radially in thepencil and thus prevent ybreakage of lead sticks that might otherwiseoccur if movable gripping devices on both sides of the lead sticks wereused.

I wish it to be understood that the invention is not to be limited tothe specific constructions and arrangements shown and described, exceptonly insofar as the claims may lbe so limited, as it will be understoodto those skilled in the art that changes may be made without departingfrom the principles of the invention. In particular, I wish it to beunderstood that the above abstract of the disclosure shall not beconsidered in any way to limit the scope of the claims.

1. A pencil comprising an exterior bar-rel having a tip through whichsticks of writing lead may lbe propelled, means providing a duct forlead sticks extending to said tip, a lead gripping device moveablelongitudinally of the pencil, said gripping device having first andsecond portions between which there may be relative movement and beingenergized to grip a lead stick in said duct when a force is applied tosaid first portion tending to move it in a retracting direction awayfrom said tip and when said second portion is held from movement in saidretracting direction, manually operated means accessible from theexterior of the pencil and effective on said second portion for movingsaid gripping device in a stick propelling direction toward said penciltip and for holding the gripping device from movement in the retractingdirection, and a spring effective on said first portion tending to movesaid gripping device in the retracting direction so as to cause thegripping device to grip a lead stick in said duct with spring derivedforce when said manually operated means is effective on said firstportion to move said gripping device in a stick propelling direction orto hold the gripping device from retracting movement.

2. A pencil as set forth in claim 1, said manually operated means beingeffective on adjustment to release said gripping device for movement ina retracting direction and said spring being eective to move thegripping device in the retracting direction when said manually operatedmeans is so adjusted, said gripping device including resilient means forallowing disengagement of the gripping device with respect to a leadstick in said duct when said gripping device so moves in the retractingdirection.

3. A pencil as set forth in claim 1, said gripping device comprising ajaw of resilient material and connected to said second portion andarranged to move into and out of said duct due to bending of the jaw andsaid manually operated means comprising a rotatable element having asurface gradually advancing longitudinally of the element and effectiveon said second portion and tending to move the jaw in a stick propellingdirection as the rotatable element is rotated.

4. A pencil as set forth in claim 2, and including a magazine for sticksof lead in said barrel positioned in the end of said lbarrel remote fromsaid tip, and said duct providing means comprising a tube connectingsaid magazine and said tip.

5. A pencil as set forth in claim 4, said tube having a slot therein andsaid gripping device comprising a jaw of resilient material connected tosaid second portion and arranged to move within said slot and into andout of said duct due to bending of the jaw and said manually operatedmeans comprising a rotatable sleeve protruding from the end of thepencil remote from said tip for manual operation and having a surfacegradually advancing longitudinally of the sleeve and effective on saidsecond portion so as to thereby tend to move the jaw to a stickpropelling direction as the sleeve is rotated.

6. A pencil as set forth in claim 5, said tube having a second slottherein opposite said first mentioned slot and said gripping devicecomprising also an anvil portion moveable longitudinally with respect tosaid tube and along with lsaid jaw and extending into said second slotand into said duct so that a lead stick is gripped between said anvilportion and said jaw.

7. A pencil as set forth in claim 6, said gripping device comprising acarriage portion slidable on and with respect to said tube andconstituting said first portionY on which said spring is effective, saidjaw being connected to said carriage portion at a place remote from saidtip and said gradually advancing surface Ibeing effective on a portionof said jaw at a place closer to 16 said tip so that said jaw bendsinwardly into said duct to engage a lead stick.

8. A pencil as set forth in claim 7, said jaw being provided with anoutwardly extending lug portion constituting said second portion and onwhich said gradually advancing surface is effective, and saidcaniageportion having an outwardly extending tang adapted to be'contacted by said gradually advancing surface for temporarily arrestingsaid gripping device in a retracting movement under the action of saidspring as said rotatable sleeve is turned to release the gripping devicefor retracting movement, said jaw being resiliently biased to springoutwardly to cause disengagement of said gripping Ydevice when thegripping device is temporarily arrested.

9. A pencil as set forth in claim 2, and a plurality of balls looselydisposed in cylindrical cavities extending into said duct, said cavitiesextending downwardly at acute angles with respect to the longitudinalcenter of said duct when the pencil is vertically disposed with said tipup so that one or more said balls moves inwardly and into said ductunder gravity so as to grip a lead stick therein as the pencil is movedfrom a vertical position into a horizontal position.

10. A pencil comprising an exterior barrel having a tip which throughsticks of writing lead may be propelled, a tube providing a duct forlead sticks extending to said tip, a gripping device movablelongitudinally of the pencil and arranged to grip a lead stick in saidduct, said gripping device comprising a part movable longitudinally withrespect to said tube and extending a xed distance into said duct, saidgripping device comprising also a jaw disposed on the opposite side ofsaid duct with respect to said part and moveable toward said part so asto grip a lead stick between the jaw and the said part, and manuallyoperated means accessible from the exterior of the pencil for movingsaid gripping device in a stick propelling direction toward said penciltip and for at the same time forcing said jaw toward said part to grip alead stick in said duct.

11. A pencil as set forth in claim 10, said tube having a pair ofopposite slots in it through which said part and said jaw extend, saidjaw being made of a resilient material and having said manually operatedmeans effective on the jaw so that the jaw is forced toward said part togrip a lead stick due to the bending of the resilient material of thejaw as the manually operated means lis adjusted to move said grippingdevice toward said tip, and a spring tending to oppose the movement ofsaid gripping device in a lead propelling direction toward said tip soas to augment the gripping force of said jaw on a lead stick in saidduct.

12. A pencil comprising an exterior barrel having a tip through whichsticks of writing lead may be propelled, a lead stick carrying tubehaving a lead stick carrying duct therein connected to said tip andhaving a pair of opposite longitudinal slots therein, an anvil portionmoveable longitudinally in one of said slots and extending slightly intosaid duct, a jaw longitudinally moveable in the other slot and connectedwith said anvil portion as to move longitudinally of the pencil alongwith said anvil portion, a spring tending to move said jaw and anvilportion in a retracting direction away from said tip, a tang portionconnected to said jaw and extending around said tube to the side of thetube remote from the slot in which said jaw is disposed, said jaw havinga resilient portion remote from said tang portion soy as to moveableinto and out of said duct, and a manually rotatable element within saidbarrel and having and having a helical surface thereon effective on saidtang portion whereby to bend said jaw in its said resilient portion tothereby engage a lead stick in said bore between said jaw vand saidanvil portion as the jaw and anvil portion are moved toward said tipagainst the action of said spring by rotation of the manually rotatableelement.

13. A pencil as set forth in claim 12, said helical portion being formedby a helical slot in said manually rotatable element and said slotextending for a plurality of revoluions in said manually rotatableelement.

14. A pencil as set forth in claim 12, said anvil portion md said jawand said tang portion being formed out of a single piece of resilientsheet material and said single piece including a portion extendingaround said tube to connect said anvil portion and said jaw.

15. A pencil as set forth in claim 13, said slot terminating at itslower end closest to said tip with a slot portion that narrows so as toforce said tang portion out of the slot to thereby move said jaw out ofsaid duct and to cause said spring to return said tang portion to theother or beginning end of said slot preparatory to an active stroke ofthe jaw back toward said tip.

16. A- pencil as set forth in claim 15, said resilient portion of saidjaw resiliently urging said tang portion into said slot, said manuallyrotatable element constituting a sleeve, and said tang portion having acurved end in contact with the inner surface of said sleeve as said jawmakes its retracting movement under the action of said spring with thecurved end tending to keep the tang portion out of said slot on theretracting movement.

17. A pencil as set forth in claim 15, said resilient portion of saidjaw resiliently urging said tang portion into said slot and saidmanually rotatable element constituting a sleeve, said slot havingoutwardly flaring sides in an intermediate portion thereof and said tangportion having correspondingly outwardly haring sides so as to tend tohold said tang portion in said slot.

18. A pencil as set forth in claim 12, and a guide element fixed withrespect to said lead stick carrying tube and said exterior barrel andhaving a Surface extending longitudinally of the tube and barrel withwhich said tang portion makes contact and which braces the tang portionas the tang portion is acted on by said helical surface as saidrotatable element is rotated to move said jaw and anvil portion towardsaid tip.

19. A pencil as set forth in claim 18, said guide element having aninwardly tapering surface on its end remote from said tip and saidmanually rotatable element constituting a sleeve that protrudes from theend of said barrel remote from said tip and said inwardly taperingsurface and the inner surface of said sleeve providing a lead stickmagazine, said inwardly tapering surface having an opening therethroughin communication with the end of said tube remote from said tip so thatlead sticks may feed from the magazine into said tube.

2U. A pencil as set forth in claim 19, said tip being separable from theremainder of said barrel and the tip and said guide element includingscrew threads for fastening them together so that the guide element andtip are fixed with respect to the remainder of said barrel.

21. A pencil as set forth in claim 12, and a guide element xed withrespect to said lead stick carrying tube and said exterior barrel andhaving a slot therein extending longitudinally of the tube and barrelfor providing surfaces for bracing the two opposite sides of said tangportion as said jaw and anvil portion are moved by rotation of saidmanually rotatable element.

22. A pencil as set forth in claim 1S, said barrel having a tapered tipportion and said guide element extending through and protruding from thetapered tip portion and said tube extending through and protruding fromthe guide element so that the tapered tip portion of the barrel and anend of the guide element and an end of the tube form said barrel tipthrough which sticks of writing lead may be propelled.

23. A pencil as set forth in claim 1S, said spring being in conical formwith its large diameter end being in slidable contact lwith the interiorsurface of said barrel and in engagement with said jaw and anvilportion, said barrel being tapered at its tip end and the other end ofthe spring extending into the tapered end of the barrel.

24. A pencil as set forth in claim 22, said spring being in conical formwith its large diameter end being in slidable contact with the interiorsurface of said barrel, said barrel being tapered on its tip end and thesmall diameter end of said spring being disposed on a peripheral bossportion on said guide element located in the tapered tip portion of saidbarrel.

25. A pencil as set forth in claim 1, said manually operated meanscomprising a sleeve rotatably disposed in said exterior barrel, and apocket clip strip extending from the exterior surface of said barrel andinto the end of the barrel remote said tip and fixed from longitudinalmovement with respect to the barrel and being in contact with aperipheral shoulder formed on said sleeve for holding the sleeve withinthe barrel as the sleeve is rotated.

26. A pencil as set forth in claim 10, said manually operated meanscomprising a sleeve rotatable disposed in said barrel and protrudingfrom the end of the pencil remote from said tip for manually operation,a spring within said barrel yieldably opposing the movement of saidgripping device in a stick propelling directon, and a pocket clip stripextending from the exterior surface of said barrel and into the end ofthe barrel remote from said tip and being fixed from rotation withrespect to the barrel and extending into a peripheral groove formed insaid sleeve so as to hold the sleeve within the barrel against theaction of said spring as the sleeve is rotated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,720,417 7/ 1929 Hasselquist401-65 1,906,851 5/ 1933 Hasselquist 401-65 1,908,386 5/1933 Wahl 401-652,210,845 8/1940 Wahl 401--65 2,452,905 11/ 1948 Collura 401-65 LAWRENCECHARLES, Primary Examiner,

